CAIR-Chicago Meets with ACLU-IL and Other Organizations to Prepare for Racial Profiling Subject Matter Hearing in Chicago

CAIR-Chicago Civil Rights Coordinator, Christina Abraham, attended a meeting with the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois (ACLU-IL), and other community organizations to prepare for a subject matter hearing addressing issues of racial profiling and the collection of data on police traffic and pedestrian stops. The Subject Matter Hearing, entitled “Extension and Expansion of the Traffic Statistical Study and Other Related Issues,” will be held before the Illinois Senate and will take place on Thursday, November 17, 2005 at 11 am in Room 16-503 at the James R. Thompson Center in Chicago.

The proposed legislation seeks to add a classification for Middle Eastern in race data collection, as well as add a parameter for religious headgear. In addition, the proposed legislation will require police officers to note if there was a consented search conducted – regardless of whether there were any contrabands found, record if there was a K-9 search – regardless of whether the K-9 found any contraband, and note if there was a refusal to consent to a search. The proposed legislation would also require officers to record the same data on all pedestrian stops in addition to the already required traffic stops. Currently police officers are not required to collect data on whether an contraband was found when conducting consented or K-9 searches.

CAIR-Chicago is urging those that can attend to come and show their support. Additionally, CAIR-Chicago is asking individuals that have experienced racial profiling to come forward with their stories. An individual can speak before the Illinois Senate briefly regarding their experience, or issue a written testimony that CAIR-Chicago will submit on their behalf. It is imperative that the Muslim community is well represented, both with their testimonies and with their presence.